Chapter 688 - 559: Don’t Speak Yet!

"Hey, Old Ding, where are you off to?"

Zhang Su watched the crowd head down the mountain and saw Ding Yong Country and Zheng Ziwen merging into it, quickly calling out to stop them.

"Of course, I’m going to pick a house, Boss Zhang, what a question, haha."

Ding Yong Country had a look of ’isn’t it obvious’ on his face.

Ma Changshou, who was guiding people out, raised his eyebrows upon hearing Ding Yong Country refer to Zhang Su, giving him a few more glances.

"What are you picking, come over, come over!"

Zhang Su waved Ding Yong Country over, squeezed his shoulder, and said, "Old Ding, what do you mean, are you trying to avoid work knowing I want you to continue blacksmithing?"

"I didn’t say that, what are you talking about?" Ding Yong Country waved his hands repeatedly.

In the past, if Zhang Su said this to Ding Yong Country, Zheng Ziwen would definitely have retorted with sarcasm. But now, he stood silently by the side, lips tightly pursed, with a determined expression like a new recruit from forty years ago.

"Since you don’t intend to avoid work, you’ll have to stay on Celestial Horse Island!"

Zhang Su turned his head and saw Wang Longzhong and Wang Xingui talking, then said, "Old Wang, you and your nephew take these two to find a house. I remember Wangshan still has two empty places."

Wangshan Inn, close to Little Lucky, in the dead of night, Zhang Su could faintly hear discussions from inside the inn.

"Alright, Brother Su, leave it to us. This way, please."

Wang Longzhong was very courteous to Ding Yong Country. He was astute, seeing Zhang Su’s attitude toward Ding Yong Country, knowing they were clearly old acquaintances and needing to foster good relations.

Once those who needed to leave had left, only some core members of Celestial Horse Island and Niu YaZI survivors remained in the parking lot.

In a corner, including Wang Family’s father and son, twenty-eight members of Niu YaZI stood obediently, their eyes no longer as blank as when they first met, probably due to the previous panic, now much better after settling down.

"Oh my, Brother Wang he..."

Zhong Xiaoshan had only heard about encountering Wang Guangjun before but hadn’t seen him. Now seeing his miserable state, she instinctively raised her hand to cover her mouth.

"He’s a bit deaf, and his vision has significantly declined, but otherwise, he’s fine, and he even looks much sturdier than before, quite good."

Zhang Su, seeing Tan Huajun looking sorrowful, tried to put it positively to not make her too upset.

"Brother Su, can Brother Wang and the others..." Tan Huajun subtly hinted, meaning if they could let him rest, after all, the journey was exhausting.

"Here at least there’s no danger, don’t worry, Old Wang will still have to endure some hardship with them, you go get busy, I’ll handle it myself."

With that, Zhang Su strode toward the crowd of Niu YaZI people.

"Dad, Brother Zhang is coming over."

Upon seeing Zhang Su approaching, Wang Zhetao excitedly informed Wang Guangjun.

"King Yama is coming, everybody perk up."

Hu Yong’an immediately stood straight upon seeing Zhang Su approach, calling out to those around him with great humility.

In the previous one-on-nine battle, not all twenty-eight of Niu YaZI members had gathered to watch, but Hu Yong’an did. Zhang Su’s combat prowess left him in awe, not just his fighting skill, but his other operations were spot on, with very few missteps.

Being a leader himself, from his perspective, there was much to learn from Zhang Su. In other words, he was a very formidable character, which explains why Celestial Horse Island could gather so many survivors!

"Old Wang, Old Hu, how does it feel to be in this remote mountainous area?"

Zhang Su approached closely, observing the expressions of the key figures as he did. He took out cigarettes, offering one to Wang Guangjun and Hu Yong’an, who had their hands bound but could manage a smoke.

Hu Yong’an and Wang Guangjun exchanged glances, standing next to each other, and after their eyes met, Wang Guangjun spoke.

"Brother Zhang, this place of yours is amazing. Over the past few months, I’ve seen seven or eight Survivor Camps, all combined they don’t have as many people, nor are they as well-protected as here. Plus, your team is very disciplined, very formal, very... good, overall just good."

Wang Guangjun didn’t have much of an education, unable to articulate grand words, but the meaning conveyed in his speech was very clear, and Zhang Su understood completely, not minding his lack of eloquence, though someone did object.

Wang Zhetao seemed to think his dad’s words too rustic, quickly chiming in, "It’s more than good, it’s fantastic, Brother Zhang, this place is blessed..."

"Stop talking!" Zhang Su interrupted Wang Zhetao’s ostentation unceremoniously, having held his temper with this kid several times.

By contrast, he found the taciturn, aloof Zheng Ziwen more likable.

Zhang Su was completely unconcerned with the awkwardness of the situation, turning to Hu Yong’an, "Old Hu, you’re at the head of Niu YaZI, I want to hear your thoughts, let’s hear it."

"Ha..." A smile cracked across Hu Yong’an’s rough skin, he looked around, and his face seemed relieved.

"If Qin City only had one Survivor Camp left, it would definitely be this place. Bringing everyone to Celestial Horse Island, I consider my mission complete. All Niu YaZI members are willing to join Celestial Horse Island without any hidden intentions, ready for King Yama’s assessment."

Zhang Su looked straight into Hu Dayong’s eyes, nodding gently without speaking, looking at each person in turn. It was a completely different feeling compared to facing the Flying Wolf Gang, as all of Niu YaZI’s people seemed very candid.

They were more open and composed than the Civilization Guardian, Little Eagle Association, Apocalypse Corps, Survivor Alliance, and Bridge Town.

Zhang Su was sure he hadn’t used his demeanor to influence them. Hence, this composure was their true inner emotion, which was the genuine attitude of survivors wanting to join a community and live together.

"Alright, rest here awhile, it’s not cold, I’ll have someone bring you food and drinks."

With that, Zhang Su patted Hu Yong’an’s arm, then turned to Wang Guangjun, giving his shoulder a firm squeeze. The two exchanged glances, a tacit understanding unspoken.

"But..."

Watching Zhang Su’s departing figure, Wang Zhetao was dumbfounded.

He was quite displeased, grumbling to his father and Hu Yong’an, "Why are we still tied up, while that previous group, those from Bridge Town, went to pick a house, and we..."

"Can you shut up!"

Wang Guangjun turned his head, glaring at Wang Zhetao with considerable dissatisfaction, "If you weren’t my own son, I’d really give you a couple of slaps!"

As his own flesh and blood, Wang Guangjun couldn’t bear to abandon Wang Zhetao in the apocalypse, but this beloved son of his was too annoying.

"Old Wang..."

Hu Yong’an glanced at the dumbfounded Wang Zhetao, then said to Wang Guangjun, "You may have gone overboard with protecting Xiaotao!"

"That’s right, Zhetao, you need to grow up, become more mature!"

Wang Guangjun spoke in a deep voice, with his head lowered.

"I am grown up, how am I not mature, I can kill zombies, set traps, what can’t I do?"

Wang Zhetao simply wouldn’t heed his father’s advice, still stuck in frustration.

His ideal scenario was for the moment he arrived at Celestial Horse Island, he’d gain freedom, find a comfortable house, and start organizing his affairs, a life he’d dreamt of for days, yet reality was far from it.

Especially seeing Zhang Su directing people to lead Ding Yong Country and Zheng Ziwen to find a house, it left him feeling even more unbalanced. This imbalance wasn’t aimed at Zhang Su, but he felt his father lacked prestige, and their faction was too insignificant...